Romar: Austin Seferian-Jenkins could play basketball

Washington Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar was on the air with Dave “Softy” Mahler this afternoon on KJR 950 AM, mostly discussing last night’s 95-74 win over Seattle University.

But a bit of news also came out of the interview, as Romar said there is a possibility that incoming freshman tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a football signee from Gig Harbor, could walk on to the basketball team next season.

Seferian-Jenkins maintained from the day he committed to Washington that he also wanted to play basketball. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, he was ranked as one of the nation’s top tight end prospects.

And if he’s able to play basketball, he’d fill an obvious need for the Huskies in the post. Matthew Bryan-Amaning graduates this year and Romar’s incoming recruiting class lacks a true post player.

Romar said that ultimately, the decision is up to football coach Steve Sarkisian. I don’t think Sarkisian would put the kibosh on it, but Seferian-Jenkins may realize how difficult it is to play both sports once football season gets underway.

Then there’s the matter of turning out for a sport halfway through the season.

“He’s not a project,” Romar said. “It’s just a matterof other guys in front of him coming out, because they will be in a bowl game, right? He’s going to be coming out in January or late December. As a freshman, you have to come out and learn the schemes and you already have guys that are there. It’s not a matter of him not being able to play or not. He’s a skilled basketball player. It’s just a matter of in order to play, you have to move ahead of some guys.”

Romar said receiver Devin Aguilar and former tight end Kavario Middleton also planned to walk on and play basketball, but both changed their minds after football season started.

“If he’s willing, if the football coaches are willing, then we’re definitely ready to have him,” Romar said.

The last scholarship player to turn out for basketball was Nate Robinson, who quit football after his freshman season and stuck to hoops. And he was pretty ineffective as a basketball player the one year he tried to do both.

So if Robinson — possibly the most gifted athlete in the history of the program — couldn’t do it, that should give you some idea of just how hard it is to switch gears like that.

OTHER NOTES…

– Romar explained the technical foul he received last night. After Justin Holiday was hammered on an alley-oop dunk attempt, Romar waved his hand at the official in disgust. That’s when the whistle came, though Romar first looked down to make sure he was still in the coach’s box.

When he realized he still was, he was confused. So Isaiah Thomas checked for him.

“He came back with a smile on his face and said, ‘You waved at him,’” Romar said.

– Have you seen this dunk yet by Terrence Ross? He threw it down during the team’s shootaround yesterday afternoon.

It defies description, so you’ll just have to watch it for yourself (filmed and uploaded to TwitVid by Tyreese Breshers).

“He attempted that dunk about 12 times before that,” Romar said. “In fact, I had told him this is the last one. You need your legs for the game. It was pretty impressive.”

– Romar said he doesn’t think the Huskies have to play their way into the tournament, but thinks they can definitely play their way out.

“Who knows what they’re thinking,” he said, “but I think if we continue to do well, we’ll be OK.”

– Romar said he thinks Aziz N’Diaye is about to break out in terms of blocking shots and getting after rebounds. He had a career-high 15 points to go along with 10 boards last night.

– Romar was pleased with his team’s energy coming off the emotional loss at Arizona.